Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas

If not for the invention of the automobile, we might not have state parks. Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier explains.

The state park system in Texas, this year, is 88 years old. It started back in 1923; Governor Pat Neff was there at the forefront of that. In fact, Mother Neff SP was considered the first state park.

That’s really the heritage of most state park systems in the United States. And it’s been great; it evolved today here in Texas to be more than 600-thousand acres of beautiful state parks, historic sites, great camping and great fishing. So, it’s origin goes back to that, in the1920s, and it is what it is today thanks to so many people.

Thanks, Bryan.

Learn more about the park system at texasstateparks.org.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet…building dependable, reliable trucks for more than 90 years.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

A Brief History of Texas State Parks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Summertime is the perfect time to head to a state park. And this month the Texas Parks and Wildlife PBS TV series brings them to you. Series Producer Don Cash.

A couple of the state parks that we’re going to feature in July on the PBS television program are Bonham State Park and Lake Arrowhead State Park. Both of these are pretty small parks; they’re within easy access to the Dallas Fort Worth area. Bonham has a very small lake…

If you don’t catch the PBS show in July, you can always go to our YouTube site, and we have videos of just about every state park; so, YouTube is a great place to go look at these, too.

Visit YouTube.com/texasparksandwildlife, where you can view a variety of videos about the great Texas outdoors.

That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

TPW TV Small Lakes Big Fun Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Some describe the game of golf as a “good walk spoiled.” But if you tee off in a state park, how bad could it really be? Our State park guide, Bryan Frazier says—not bad at all.

51—Golfing continues to be one of the more popular recreational activities and sports in the Unites States. And to have those options in our state parks system, what you’re doing is combining the best that people enjoy. And that is: beautiful scenery, and great outdoor recreation—and golf. And that’s golf carts, pro shops.

Or out in those rolling post oaks there in Lockhart SP. The golf is just better. It combines recreation that people are interested in anyway, in an environment that people love.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet…building dependable, reliable trucks for more than 90 years.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks: Golfing Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

What’s a West Texas family supposed to do when it gets really hot and they want to go swimming, but they don’t own a pool? Our State park guide, Bryan Frazier has the answer.

68—Summertime in Texas is swimming time. And in West Texas, the water is few and far between, but our swimming pools that we have in State Parks are great in West Texas. And two immediately come to mind, and one is Abilene State Park, and you can ask just about anyone who’s been going to Abilene State Park since the 30s, and they’ll talk about the wonderful CCC built swimming pool, and how cool the water is, and how nice it is; the big stone masonry that makes that pool great. And there’s no separate fee for the pool use in Abilene; it comes with your entrance fee which is $4 per person for people ages 13 and older. And if you’re a kid 12 and younger—there’s no cost. The other one I want to mention in West Texas is Balmorhea State Park. There is no place in the world like Balmorhea State Park. Not only build by the CCC in the 30s, it’s the world’s largest natural swimming pool, with 22-million gallons of fresh water going through there. You’ve got rare catfish in there, an old fashioned high dive—its 25 feet deep—72 degrees year-round. It’s good for swimming, scuba diving, you name it. So, West Texas—it’s warm—but there’s lots of water out there, so get out there an enjoy it.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet…building dependable, reliable trucks for more than 90 years.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Getting Wet in West Texas Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Nothing can cool off the whole family on a hot summer’s day faster than a dip in the cool waters of a state park swimming pool.

Our State park guide, Bryan Frazier tells us about a couple of well loved pools in Central Texas.

45—We have some great parks with fantastic swimming pool facilities; sometimes the only pool facility in the entire county. And so in Central Texas we have LBJ SP that has a great swimming pool facility there.

And then, too, Bastrop and Lockhart were built by the CCC. And they’re just beautiful and clean. Bastrop SP has got some new renovations with new restrooms, with a new pool liner. So that experience is even better. Now, they all have summer hours, and you can find those out on our website texasstateparks.org. You can find season passes at these pools, and at Bastrop SP they even have swimming lessons that are available. So, that’s one more option to make a State Park destination a great getaway.

Thanks, Bryan.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet…building dependable, reliable trucks for more than 90 years.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Park Swimming Holes Play Now | Play in Popup | Download